Southern Appalachian Digital Collections

Western Carolina University (20) View all

Little River Lumber Company: slash along Jakes Creek

  • wcu_great_smoky_mtns-8400.jpg
  • At the turn of the 20th century, logging became a major industry in the Great Smoky Mountains, which had the last great stands of virgin forest in the eastern United States. While timbering was profitable to be sure, the industry left devastation in its wake. This photograph is of slash, the woody debris left over from logging which, once dry, can become a fire hazard. Within a few decades, thousands of acres were stripped of trees, causing erosion, pollution, and loss of habitat. These concerns led some to try to advocate for preserving these mountains and eventually establishing the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.